New Los Angeles Rams QB Ty Simpson was a college starter for a good time instead of a long time. Simpson was arguably the best signal caller in all of college football through the first nine weeks of last season before a late downturn that can reasonably be explained by a rash of injuries.
His individual best game? I’d make an argument it came in Week 7 at Missouri.
While the box score doesn’t necessarily bear out an impressive performance, Missouri had the sixth-best defense in the NCAA according
to Pro Football Focus (PFF) defensive grade. Simpson led the Crimson Tide down to the wire against an SEC competitor. It was a gritty performance against a formidable defense that LA’s hopeful franchise quarterback can hang his hat on.
Let me set the scene…
The Tigers had one of the stoutest run fronts in college football. Alabama was committed to the ground game despite its inefficiency against Mizzou. The Crimson Tide ran the ball with running backs 32 times for 117 yards (3.6 average). One of the weaknesses of last year’s Alabama team was their inability to produce in the run game consistently, and this problem showed up against the Tigers. They needed Simpson to be the difference if they were going to win.
Simpson had basically the same number of passing attempts (31) as handoffs and dropped back 39 times. It wasn’t the quarterback’s most productive game on the ground, though he did add 31 yards on seven carries (4.4 average) and beat the per carry figure posted by running backs. Simpson even ripped off an explosive gain with his legs for 20 yards.
Simpson tossed two touchdowns in the first half: a six-yarder to Kevin Riley and a 16-yard dot to Isaiah Horton. Mizzou trailed at halftime 10-17 before Simpson coughed up the ball early in the third quarter.
Missouri came roaring back and trailed by just three heading into the fourth quarter.
Rising to the occasion
With a one-score game hanging in the balance, Simpson defied the odds to keep Alabama in the win column.
Their final scoring drive started off in disaster. Simpson was sacked on first down for a lost of seven. A pass to Riley lost another seven yards.
On third and 24 Simpson went back to Riley for a gain of 16 yards. On fourth and eight he hit Lotzeir Brooks for 29 yards down to the Missouri nine-yard line.
On third and goal Simpson connected with Danny Lewis for six yards and moved the ball to the goal line. He then connected with Daniel Hill for the game-securing one-yard touchdown—his third of the day.
You want to see quarterbacks rise to the occasion in the game’s biggest moments against football’s toughest opponents. That’s exactly what Simpson did to stave off a loss for the Crimson Tide.
Simpson’s best game of the season?
Simpson posted only 23 completions for 200 yards, three scores, and a lost fumble against Missouri. PFF assessed his performance with just a 65.8 offensive grade.
Still, Simpson posted three big-time throws on a low volume of pass attempts. He finished with a single turnover-worthy play, which was probably his lost fumble. He was pressured 15 times on 39 dropbacks (38%). It’s tough to play under those circumstances and this was still an efficient—albeit low production—performance.
SEC football translates to the NFL. For having only a single starting season under his belt, Simpson was still tested against some of college football’s best defenses. He even overcame the odds late against Missouri to snatch his team out of the jaws of defeat, and that’s exactly the gritty nature the Rams hope Simpson can bring to Los Angeles.
